The Hellenic Navy (HN) (Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, Polemikó Naftikó, abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence. During the periods of monarchy (1833–1924 and 1936–1973) it was known as the Royal Navy (Βασιλικόν Ναυτικόν, Vasilikón Naftikón, abbreviated ΒΝ).The total displacement of all the navy's vessels is approximately 150,000 tons.The motto of the Hellenic Navy is "Μέγα το της Θαλάσσης Κράτος" from Thucydides' account of Pericles' oration on the eve of the Peloponnesian War. This has been roughly translated as "Great is the country that controls the sea". The Hellenic Navy's emblem consists of an anchor in front of a crossed Christian cross and trident, with the cross symbolizing Greek Orthodoxy, and the trident symbolizing Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology. Pericles' words are written across the top of the emblem. "The navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece, should only be created for war and aim to victory."...............The Hellenic Merchant Marine refers to the Merchant Marine of Greece, engaged in commerce and transportation of goods and services universally. It consists of the merchant vessels owned by Greek civilians, flying either the Greek flag or a flag of convenience. Greece is a maritime nation by tradition, as shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks and a key element of Greek economic activity since the ancient times. Nowadays, Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world, which is the second largest contributor to the national economy after tourism and forms the backbone of world shipping. The Greek fleet flies a variety of flags, however some Greek shipowners gradually return to Greece following the changes to the legislative framework governing their operations and the improvement of infrastructure.Blogger Tips and Tricks
This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς....This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς.........

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Award for Army dog's "exceptional devotion to duty"...[ 4114 ]

Army dog killed in Afghanistan given posthumous medal

BBC., 29 April 2014 Last updated at 00:23 GMT

Sasha, the four-year-old Labrador  
 
Sasha is the 65th animal to be awarded the PDSA's Dickin Medal since 1943

Related Stories

A British Army dog killed alongside her handler in Afghanistan is to be honoured with what is called the highest military award for an animal.
Sasha, a four-year-old yellow Labrador who was trained to hunt out explosives, is credited with saving the lives of scores of soldiers and civilians.
She will be awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal, which the charity says is the animal version of the Victoria Cross.
The PDSA said the award recognised Sasha's "exceptional devotion to duty".
Sasha was deployed with handlers from the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, attached to the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.
Alongside her handler, she was tasked with carrying out advance patrols to find safe routes for soldiers and sniff out weapons and IEDs.
.
The PDSA said: "Sasha's determination to search and push forward - despite gruelling conditions and relentless Taliban attacks - was a morale boost to the soldiers who entrusted their lives to her weapon-finding capability. 
.
"On one occasion recalled by regimental colleagues, Sasha was searching a building in Garmsir when she detected two mortars and a large quantity of weaponry, including explosives and mines.
"This find alone undoubtedly saved the lives of many soldiers and civilians."
In 2008 she was assigned to 24-year-old Lance Corporal Kenneth Rowe and the pair were considered the best in the Kandahar region.
Lance Corporal Kenneth Rowe Lance Corporal Kenneth Rowe died alongside Sasha when the pair were ambushed during a routine patrol
L/Cpl Rowe and Sasha working together in Afghanistan before their deaths L/Cpl Rowe and Sasha working together in Afghanistan before their deaths
They died together on 24 July 2008 when their routine patrol was ambushed by a rocket-propelled grenade attack.

Other winners of the PDSA Dickin Medal

  • White Vision, a pigeon, was the first animal to receive the award in December 1943 for contributing to the rescue of an RAF crew in World War Two.
  • Princess, a pigeon, was honoured in May 1946 for "one of the finest performances in the war record of the Pigeon Service"
  • Upstart, a police horse, was awarded the medal in 1947 for remaining on duty in Bethnal Green, London, despite a flying bomb showering her with glass
  • Simon, a cat, was posthumously awarded the medal for his work catching rats on board HMS Amethyst in 1949, despite being wounded by shell blast
  • Apollo, a German Shepherd with the New York Police Department, was granted the honour on behalf of all search and rescue dogs who worked tirelessly in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks
  • Lucky ,a German Shepherd and RAF Police anti-terrorist tracker dog, received the award in 2007 for her exceptional talent in locating the enemy during the Malaya campaign
L/Cpl Rowe, from West Moor near Newcastle, had been due to return home the day before he died but wanted to stay on to complete a planned operation because he was concerned about a lack of cover for comrades.
Sasha had 15 confirmed finds of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), mortars and hidden weaponry.
Her presence was also said to be a reassuring sight to British Army personnel.
Colonel Neil Smith QHVS, Director Army Veterinary and Remount Services, said: "The Royal Army Veterinary Corps is delighted that PDSA is honouring Sasha by awarding her the PDSA Dickin Medal.
"This prestigious award recognises how her devotion and skills undoubtedly saved the lives of many troops in Afghanistan, and acknowledges the excellent work our military working dogs and their handlers do.
"Sadly this award is posthumous as both Sasha and her handler Lance Corporal Ken Rowe were killed in enemy action in Afghanistan in 2008.
"Our thoughts remain with L/Cpl Rowe's family and this award will give us the opportunity to once more celebrate his and Sasha's immeasurable contributions to military operations."
Sasha is the 65th animal to be awarded the medal since 1943 when it was launched.
A news report from 2008 when L/Cpl Rowe and Sasha were killed in Afghanistan


“Start Quote

Her story exemplifies the dedication of man's best friend and reminds us all of the amazing contribution they make to our lives.”
Jan McLoughlin PDSA Director General
 
Other winners of the Dickin Medal - named after the charity's founder Maria Dickin - include 32 World War Two messenger pigeons, three horses and a cat.
PDSA Director General Jan McLoughlin said: "We are extremely proud to be awarding a posthumous PDSA Dickin medal to military working dog Sasha, which is the highest award any animal can receive for lifesaving bravery in military conflict.
.
"The award is even more poignant as we approach the centenary of World War One and are reminded of the huge debt we owe the animals who serve in times of conflict.
"Sasha's exceptional devotion to duty in Afghanistan saved many lives, both soldiers and civilians.
"This medal, recognised worldwide as the animals' Victoria Cross, honours both Sasha's unwavering service and her ultimate sacrifice.
"Her story exemplifies the dedication of man's best friend and reminds us all of the amazing contribution they make to our lives."
Αναρτήθηκε από στις
Ετικέτες

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)